The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-04-16
A JUDGES ROMANCE.
How an Attorney Saved Clients Life
and Then Married Her.
A Famous Murder Trial-A Celebrated Case
Recalled by the Death of Judge
Bradley.

| Recalled by the Death of Judge
Bradley.
WAsnINGToN, April 4.-The death of
the venerable Judge Joseph H. Bradley,
OF this city, recalls the celebrated case
which Was the central fact of his career,
and which obtained national renown
| Along during the war there was young
unmarried man named Burrows in the
employ of the Government here. He was
clerk in the Treasury Department, and
was engaged to be married to a Kentucky
girl named Mary Harris. Burrows him.
self was a kentuckian also, | believe. but
| am not sure as to this point. They had
been engaged for long time, and it had
been Understood between them that as
soon as possible after Ire had gained his
expected clerkship at Washington, and
bad got settled and little ''ahead"
financially, he would notify her, and the
marriage would then take place. Bur
rows got his position, and kept it long
while, but the stipulated notification was
not forthcoming Months elapsed, and
perhaps years, but he seemed not to be
able to get SETTLED" enough to marry
at any rate the Kentucky girl heard no
new of the desired tenor, although they
corresponded constantly as betrothed
lovers, and his letters, as we'll as hers,
were all that lover could wish them
to be.
Rut though Burrows apparently had
so much difficulty in getting things ready
for his marriage with Mary Harris, he
had found it easier to manage in the case
OF another fair damsel whom he had met
in this city, and in the light of whose
smiles he had allowed the vision of his
faithful Kentucky girl to fade and van
ish away. In other words, he changed
mis- mind, aud proved tickle to Mary, and
that, too, without informing her of the
fact, either directly or indirectly; and his
marriage to the other lady was at last
appointed tor certain day in 1864.
But in all evil hour for him, Mary Har-
rs In some way received Information of
the pertidy of Burrows and of the date of
his proposed nuptials-the time then be-
ing near at hand. She did not collapse,
or spend any time in lamentation or con-
terences with her kindred and friends.
AS soon as she heard the news she started
directly for Washington, just as she was.
She did not change her dress, nor did she
stop to pack up" Without any bag
gage or change of apparel, she Went at
once from her home to the railway STA
ton, only stopping on the road to buy
pistol, and took the first train Eastward.
Upon her arrival in this city she went to
no hotel or restaurant; but, without any
dallying, and at the same time without
any perceptible excitement i'll her man.
her. proceeded straight to the Treasury
building, walked into one of the en-
frances, found her way to the right cor
ridor. sent word into Burrows room that
some one wished to see him outside the
door, and when he responded in person,
after exchanging few sentences with
him, and learning from him that the news
was true, she quietly drew her pistol and
shot him dead, almost on the very eve of
his wedding day.
She then turned on her heel and walked
off in business like way, but made no
effort to escape, and was of course soon
arrested. The tragedy, and the unusual
circumstances attending it, made pro-
found impression on the public, far and
near. The trial was highly sensational
and attracted spectators from all parts of
the country. Mary Harris counsel was
Judge Bradley, and, although the evil
dence was strongly against her, and
though the sentiment of the public,
which might have been CD her side if she
had not been SO cool about it all, was
also rather against her, the Judge brought
her through triumphantly. on the theory
that, though perfectly sane before and
after the occurrence, she was at that time
suffering from temporary acute attack
of emotional insanity" This was the
first instance of precisely this line of de-
fence. ard the phrase became byword
everywhere. Notwithstanding the pop
ular incredulity as to the existence of
such a thing as momentary emotional
INSANITY" and Notwithstanding it's ap
parent weakness as plea, it was sue
cessful in this case; and was subsequently
applied with frequency and success in
similar cases-the case of Laura d. Fair,
who killed ex-senator Crittenden in Cali
fornia, being perhaps the most conspicu-
Gus one.
But Mary Harris did not get off scot
free Immediately. She was adjudged in
nocent of murder but still insane, and
accordingly she was sentenced to con
tinemeut in st. Eizabeth's Asylum in
this city. The scene at her acquittal was
a most extraordinary one. There was
great hubbub, in the midst of which
Judge Bradley kissed his fair client, and
exclaimed that she was noble woman, and
that if there were more like her there
would be fewer scamps in the world
which proposition would seem to be un-
deniably true.
Miss Harris was subjected to nominal
confinement in the asylum for many
years, although in reality she was under
no constraint. She could come and 60
when she liked, and if she had chosen to
she could have escaped at any time. In
fact, she often passed whole months away
from the asylum, at the Virginia Springs
or other summer resorts Almost every
body felt sure that she was not in the
least insane.
The sequel may not be known to many
but it is one of the most striking parts of
the story. After some years, Judge
Bradley got Mary Harris legally dis
charged fl ON the asylum as restored to
sanity, and then he married her. And
today the horoine of the tragedy of 1864
is bending tearfully over the deathbe'i OF
the faithful man who saved her life then
aud has been devoted to it ever since.
PIERCE.